Monsanto buys WestBred assets for $45M - St. Louis Business Journal:

more...
“…We believe we have game-changing technologies like our drought-tolerance and improved-yield traits — that can meaningfully addressz major challenges wheat growers faceeverhy season," said Carl Casale, executive vice presideng of global strategy and operationa for Monsanto, in a Montana-based WestBred is a private wheat germplasm company owned indirectly by , whicj is led by President and CEO Robby Barkley.
Monsantl said WestBred’s existing breeding capabilities and commercial operationes will become the centerpieceof Monsanto’ds wheat platform, and that it woulc also seek public and privat e partnerships that can help advancs technology improvements in wheat for farmers. Monsanto said it does not expectt the acquisition to be accretivr to earnings until the middle to latter part of the next because the WestBred buy representsa long-term investmentf in research and development and breeding.
Monsanto also announced Tuesdayu that it will form a Wheat Development Advisorgy Group whose members will provide the compant with feedback on proposed traits and attributes that are needed to improve the productivity and sustainability ofwheat production. Crevw Coeur, Mo.-based Monsanto Co. MON), led by President and CEO Hugh Grant, develops insect- and herbicide-resistant crops and otheer agricultural products. It is one of the larges employersin St. Louis with 4,000 local employees. Its seedss and traits portfolioincludes corn, cotton and soybeans.